Going for pippies by Wilaaran Hunter Laurie. Illus. by Tori-Jay Mordey
A mob goes to the beach to collect pippies, just as their families have done for thousands of years. Uncles and sisters, cousins and nans and pops, mum and dad, all smiles to carry on the tradition and teach the younger ones the skills they have been taught. Dad drives the big white truck to the beach looking for a good spot. Once found everyone gets their bucket and stomps into the water. But not young Wilaaran, he does not like the water.
He watches as the rest of his mob dance in the water. What are you doing he yells at them. We are doing the pippy dance they yell back. Suddenly dad grins and holds up his catch, a group of pippies in his hands. Wilaaran fills his bucket with white, foaming water and puts the pippies in.
The whole mob follow suit, tossing pippies to be added to the bucket. Soon it is time to go back home to cook what they have found, while Nan and Wilaaran take the smaller ones back to the sea. He holds Nan’s hand as she walks with him to the water.
A gentle story of a family working together to pass on skills to the next generation, Going for pippies has a warmth that will make all readers smile. The mob consists of a range of relatives, all looking forward to the feast at the end of the day. While some do the pippie dance, others collect their catch while sitting on the beach, but Wilaaran is eventually taken by Nan to do an important job, overcoming his fear. This joyous representation of the family working together sings with positive relationships, a nurturing community, of using their environment with an eye to conservation. The warmth of the sun can be felt by all readers, stretching their legs out on the sand, doing the dance in the shallows.
This is a wonderful read aloud book, having lots of actions to do as the book is read. And some lucky people may be able to try the dance out for themselves when they next visit the sea.
The illustrations are warm and inviting, offering a look at an extended family sharing their skills, teaching the younger people things passed on for generations.
The great swathes of colour across the pages will make the readers feel the sun on their backs, the sand between their toes, and the effect their dance has upon the sea bed. Children will empathise with Wilaaran as he sits on the beach watching the others do their dance, and will cheer when Nan take this hand to lead him into the water. Readers will know that next time he will dance. The pictures on the end paper is just right, bringing all the themes together; intergenerational learning, respecting the environment, sharing, community and family. This is a lovely book, subtle, warm and joyous.
Themes: Aboriginal themes, Storytelling, Family, Relationships, Pippies.
Fran Knight